Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll (Minus the drugs, and more dance music & hip hop)
I was churched, but it played no part in my life outside those doors. But still God shone through and I remember people would say there was something different about me and my brother, which would in fact make me feel even worse……
Influences of the World, working within tough environments and relationships all hardened my heart!
I made small but deliberate steps towards the cross over several years in my mid 20s, and slowly but surely as I freed certain areas of my life I felt the gradual softening of my heart. In fact I almost cried at my brothers wedding a few years back, I’m not sure who was more surprised out of me or my wife.
I finally made a full declaration at an Easter service in 2013. That was the first time that I really said and meant that I wanted to surrender to God and let Jesus take full active participation in my life! I was baptised soon after which was a great line in the sand, and clear point to move forward from.
My heart continues to soften as I let go of the things and aims that I once focused my life on. Do I still make serious errors, yes. Do I still fall far short of God’s best for me, regrettably often. However, I have noticed I am able to dig deeper into the Bible and prayer, God has given me a greater capacity to understand both, and desire to live a life deserving of all Jesus has done for me. I’m also able to reflect on and really proclaim the words of worship songs that I have heard and sung for years but have never really taken much note to the words and their meanings.
One such song that kept playing over and over in my head as I first put pen to paper on this short testimony a few years ago was a Graham Kendrick song based in part on – Philippians 3: 7-11
All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this….
Knowing you Jesus !!
To be continued…….